News / National
US fears Zimbabwe - Ambassador
16 Jun 2015 at 06:35hrs | Views
United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton on Monday said President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF remain a serious threat to American foreign policy.
This is despite recent efforts from both sides to try and normalise relations.
However, President Barack Obama's representative said Zimbabwe could not be placed in the same basket as North Korea and Iran, countries previously described by the US as "outposts of tyranny".
"The President (Barack Obama) has to renew every year an Executive order that maintains the targeted sanctions against 106 individuals in Zimbabwe and 69 entities," he is quoted saying.
"In that Executive order it talks about threats to American security interests.
"That includes health security, economic and democratic security.
"President Obama and (George W) Bush before him have consecutively decided that some of the situation pertaining to Zimbabwe does pose a threat to American security interests."
Mugabe often blames Western countries including the US for Zimbabwe's long-running economic problems.
This is despite recent efforts from both sides to try and normalise relations.
However, President Barack Obama's representative said Zimbabwe could not be placed in the same basket as North Korea and Iran, countries previously described by the US as "outposts of tyranny".
"The President (Barack Obama) has to renew every year an Executive order that maintains the targeted sanctions against 106 individuals in Zimbabwe and 69 entities," he is quoted saying.
"That includes health security, economic and democratic security.
"President Obama and (George W) Bush before him have consecutively decided that some of the situation pertaining to Zimbabwe does pose a threat to American security interests."
Mugabe often blames Western countries including the US for Zimbabwe's long-running economic problems.
Source - Newsday
